EGA Progresses with Al Taweelah Smelter Recovery
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has successfully brought 25% of its reduction cells back online at the Al Taweelah facility, marking a significant milestone in its recovery efforts. This progress comes after an emergency shutdown was triggered on March 28 due to a strike on the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi. Since then, the company has been working methodically to restore its three potlines, with the energization process beginning in late May and continuing through early August. With approximately 1,000 personnel dedicated to the task, the company is using a mix of veteran expertise and innovative techniques to stabilize each cell within a week of restart, channeling production toward both further cell restoration and the creation of premium finished products.
CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban described the restoration process as the most demanding project in the company's history, yet he remains optimistic about the timeline. EGA is currently targeting a return to full capacity by the first quarter of 2027. Meanwhile, the facility’s alumina refinery is functioning at half capacity, though the company noted that the smelter’s ongoing recovery is not strictly dependent on the refinery hitting full output. Additionally, the new Al Taweelah recycling plant is hitting its stride, with management expecting to reach total production capacity by the end of the fourth quarter.